Review: Scars Above is a deeply frustrating sci-fi shooter that can’t shake Returnal’s shadow

videogameschronicle.com:

Picture a challenging third-person shooter set on a blueish-greyish alien planet, starring a female scientist with few answers as to why she is there and what the state of the world is.

She encounters artefacts that inform her of her past, while traversing hostile environments full of enemies that come back to life each time you return(al).

If you see gameplay footage of Scars Above and get the feeling that you’re watching some early footage of Housemarque’s incredible roguelike shooter Returnal then you wouldn’t be alone – not only does Scars Above remind us of the game, it feels like an intentional homage that fails to entirely grasp what made the original so great.

Scars Above starts strongly with Kate, the protagonist, crashing to a mysterious planet thanks to a huge alien structure called The Metahedron. When she miraculously survives she’s now tasked with attempting to put the pieces back together.

The initial mystery is well-sprung, the voice acting is good and there’s enough intrigue, at least initially, to encourage you to explore. But from the second you get to the planet, and begin to explore, it is frankly utterly distracting just how much Scars Above seems to be attempting to emulate Returnal.

The opening of the game is about exploring an intimidating, dangerous planet, retaken by hostile vegetation, where strange obelisks that don’t appear to fit hint at a wider, more sophisticated civilization that once inhabited the land.

There are literally camera shots that might as well be shot-for-shot lifted from Returnal, it’s frankly absurd at times. We half expected a 19th-century farmhouse to appear in the middle of a level at some point.

While Kate’s voice-acting performance is enjoyable, just try not to get a look at